Is the Mass of Ideas Associated With a Work of Art
Last Updated on February 8, 2017
Looking for fine art project ideas? A theme for high school fine art boards? Whether specialising in Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, textiles or Sculpture, most senior high school Art students begin by selecting a topic for their portfolio, coursework or examination project. It is a determination that many discover difficult, whether due to a lack of inspiration, an disability to discern between two or more possible ideas or a general misunderstanding virtually the type of topic that is appropriate. Below is a stride-by-step guide that IGCSE, GCSE, A Level Art students (and those from many other high school Art qualifications) may use to aid brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding field of study, topic or theme for their loftier schoolhouse Art project.
Stride one: Brainstorm Ideas
- Write down all subjects, themes, places, things, activities or issues that are personally relevant and that thing to y'all(fifty-fifty random, unexpected things, such as a the art room sink, or heirloom knives and forks in your kitchen drawer). The purpose of any artwork is to communicate a message: to comment or scream or sing almost the world in which we find ourselves in. If there is no emotion behind the work, there is no driving strength – nothing to direct and shape your decision making. Write down the things that you care about; that move yous.
- Include topics that are unusual, challenging, controversial, gritty or inspiring: those that fill y'all with passion. Students who select substantial, heartfelt problems that they really believe in are more than likely to achieve neat results than those who cull aesthetically pleasing but superficial subjects. A tried and true subject can still be approached in an individual and innovative mode, but choosing a topic that is novel and fresh has certain advantages. Strong, contentious issues are those which the assessors themselves have a reaction to; they provoke an emotive response. Such topics make the markers and moderators sit down up and take notice: it gives them ample opportunity to come across the merit within your work. (Example shown below:Photography Coursework folio boards by Louise Hutt).
Painting Coursework folio boards by Lauren Day from Dark-green Bay High School:
Painting Coursework final slice by Hera Lorandos from St. Lawrence Higher:
Painting Coursework folio boards by Michaela Coney of Waiuku College:
Note: For inspiration about how to nowadays your brainstorming, you may like to view How to brand a Mind Map: creative examples for high school Art students.
Pace 2: Evaluate your ideas
Call up advisedly about the topics that you take written down. Use the flowchart at the end of this article to evaluate your ideas.
- Eliminate those which are 'cheesy' (i.e involving pink hearts and Brad Pitt), insincere (i.eastward. a theme of 'World Peace', when really this is something you lot couldn't intendance less about) andoverly "pretty" or lacking in substance (i.eastward. bunches of roses). This doesn't mean that a traditionally 'cute' subject cannot be successful, (see the cupcake example beneath by a pupil from Sir William Ramsay Schoolhouse – image sourced from Dan China), but recall advisedly before proceeding with such a topic.
- Eliminate those subjects which you are unable to explore first-mitt. In order to create artworks, you volition need access to high quality imagery. For example, if yous are exploring the way in which humans kill animals in order to consume their meat, admission to the within of a butchery or shambles/freezing works is likely to be essential. Reliance on photographs taken by others is rarely a good idea. No matter how awesome a theme appears, if you are unable to explore any aspect of it firsthand, it is very unlikely that you will be able to exercise the topic justice. Call back that you will probable need to return to your source imagery several times during your loftier schoolhouse course, so a submission based upon a particular plant that only blooms for a couple of weeks out of the year or a view of your village during a rare winter snow tempest is very risky. The ideal GCSE, IGCSE or Fine art A-Level bailiwick is one that you can physically render to, whenever you need – to draw, photograph or experience first-hand.
- Remove the topics for which the source material is excessively unproblematic, i.e. containing only a few forms, textures and patterns. A small pile of cardboard boxes, for example, might inspire a great drawing, but if this is the starting point for an entire yr'southward Equally or A2 work, the direct lines, rectangular forms and apartment box surfaces are unlikely to provide enough visual variety to explore for months on cease. Overly busy source fabric, on the other hand, is not an issue – information technology is much easier to simplify form and particular than it is to add back in.
- Eliminate those topics for which the source material lacks artful appeal . Do non fault 'aesthetic entreatment' for pretty. In fact, some of the 'ugliest' things tin be stunningly rendered in an artwork or design. Art teachers (and artists in full general) often speak of finding the dazzler in the ordinary or mundane: seeing the magic in that which others have discarded or forgotten (run across the electric plug painting below by Amy Thellusson fromNotting Loma and Ealing Loftier Schoolhouse) . This does non mean, however, that anything is suitable for your A Level topic. Some scenes are genuinely unattractive and unsuitable visually. Certain object combinations (due to their detail shapes, colours or textures) are extremely difficult to compose in a pleasing way. Similarly, some items – particularly disproportionate drawings or designs by others – are very challenging for a loftier schoolhouse student to replicate. A cartoon, for instance, of a doll that is proportioned unusually, may appear to be an inaccurate, badly proportioned cartoon of an ordinary doll. In other words, the examiner may not realise that the doll is proportioned badly – they may think you but cannot draw. (If you find ascertaining the aesthetic potential of your ideas difficult, talk over this further with your art teacher. Alternatively, you are welcome to join the give-and-take in our forum).
- Eliminate topics which are mutual or over-washed (unless y'all take an original way of approaching this topic) . It doesn't thing if some others have explored the aforementioned topic as you… With the millions of people in the earth, it is highly unlikely that you lot volition exist the only one to explore a particular theme (in fact, this is benign, every bit you can larn from others…and no one will brand fine art exactly similar you), simply, if EVERYONE is doing it – if it is a topic that the examiners have seen a hundred times before, you should retrieve carefully well-nigh whether you accept something sufficiently new and original to say about it.
- Ensure that the topic you choose is something that yous really care about and which can sustain your interest for a year. If you have more than one topic left on your list, option the affair that you intendance about the well-nigh.
A Level Photography piece by Kate Dunn from Cobham Hall Schoolhouse:
Painting Coursework folio boards past Melanie Nieuwoudt from Green Bay High School:
A quick guide for evaluating ideas
The information in this commodity has been summarised in a flowchart, which can be used every bit a quick tool to evaluate GCSE, IGCSE and A Level Art ideas. The top section of the diagram contains general areas to trigger brainstorming; the bottom outlines the evaluation process.
Summary
A skillful GCSE, IGCSE, NCEA or A level Art coursework topic keeps yous enthusiastic, creative and eager to create more. It eliminates the need for slavish cocky-subject field. It opens the door for yous become a 'existent' artist – making art about what matters to you.
Comments
When first published, this article received over eight hundred comments from students looking for direction and assistance with their high school art projects. S ome of these comments have been published beneath. Information technology is hoped that the answers provide valuable insight for others.
Levi:I am struggling with a theme for my art A2 Level Unit 3. I was wondering if you can advise. I was thinking of 'seasons' but cannot find much information or artists to research and this is important because I accept to write an essay on the creative person. I do not call up this is a theme with enough information. I did very well in my AS Level and got an A on both units. They were on Natural Class (Fish) and Waterways. In that location was and then much information on both these themes. I did the Day of the Dead festival for my GCSE and got an A*. I am trying to find a theme which has lots of information merely am struggling. Cheers for your help.
Amiria: Firstly, I want to stress that the near important gene should exist how personally relevant your theme is: the quantity of information available on this topic is much less crucial. The truth is that these days – with the prevalence of information available on the internet – it is very rare to find a topic which you are unable to detect sufficient textile. If you are finding it difficult to source information that relates to a 'seasons' theme, this may be because you lot are being too full general in your investigations. I propose that yous recollect virtually what aspect the topic you are most interested in… For example, are you lot merely drawn to artful aspects, i.e. tawny fall leaves or a barren winter scene…or do you wish to deport a more theoretical investigation – i.e. exploring ideas of regeneration / cycle of life etc? One time you have narrowed information technology down (hopefully to something that is gritty, meaningful and personal) begin Google searches for artwork that fits this specific subject. Hopefully this volition provide you lot with more than results.
If y'all would similar to carelessness the seasons theme altogether, and wish to start with something new, it is difficult for me to make suggestions every bit I don't know your interests and the possibilities are endless! If you are really stuck, have something ordinary – and do something unusual to information technology. For example, ane of my nigh recent students took fruit, waited until it rotted and decayed…and so strung them upwards on the classroom wall using nails and cord. She then took barbarous and beautiful photographs of these, and began the most intricate and detailed drawings and paintings. At that place were many painters of fruit whose work was helpful to her. At that place was also an endless supply of crazy, contemporary modern artists whose exploratory use of media was of relevance.
Forget about quantity of information. If you lot care enough most something, yous volition exist able to write an outstanding essay with ease.
What moves you? What matters to you most in the world?
SOPHIA:I'm about to brainstorm my AS Art and we take been asked to produce work over the summer on the topic they have given us. Although I won the art prize last year I am struggling with ideas for our theme which is Manmade. I like fine art and my previous works have been detailed forms of nature including horses, plants etc. To start with I have been looking at Leonardo da Vinci and have been inspired by his sketches of homo anatomy, but I don't know how to develop this into my own ideas keeping within the Manmade topic. Also after reading your tips I realise it has to convey emotion. Assistance!
AMIRIA:Hi Sophia, thanks for your question. Your enjoyment of drawing natural forms, horses, plants and human beefcake drawings suggests yous particularly like curving, organic forms – perhaps with a preference (at this stage) for realistic depiction. There are plenty of 'Manmade' items that also fit into this category, i.e. curving architectural forms; ornate utensils / kitchenware (old kettles etc); woven baskets; intricate jewellery pieces… If you exercise a Google image search on 'curving organic form' y'all get a skillful idea of the huge range of beautiful human made forms that fit into the aesthetic you seem to like… which could thus class the footing of an As portfolio. The possibilities, nevertheless, are endless, so information technology is better to ask yourself what things really matter to you – what do you lot want to communicate to the world? Your work is often best driven non just by an emotion, only by a message (which will so provoke an emotional response in you and viewers). What bothers yous? What enrages you? One time you take an thought, yous can then kickoff to call back almost means of exploring this aesthetically…
ABIGAIL: Howdy! I am actually struggling to find ideas for my theme of landscape this year. Terminal year I received an Excellence for my NCEA Art lath which was to practice with humans and birds. My art frequently surrounds humans and animals only I cannot practice that with the theme this year so I am really stuck! I was thinking of doing Rural vs Urban but equally I am in honey with Venice and other historical buildings that I feel the need to paint them for my art lath!! I don't know how I could incorporate these ideas (rural, urban, historical buildings) or if yous have any other ideas for the theme of Mural it would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!
AMIRIA: What particular aspect of a Rural vs Urban theme would you focus on? The encroachment of urban sprawl on the rural environment? Conflict at the boundary where the two meet? Information technology is possible that historical buildings could play a part in an urban/rural theme if you looked at, for example, vines/creepers itch over bedraggled buildings / nature taking dorsum a manmade structure etc. Withal, such interpretations are reasonably common and don't seem to be that personal – i.eastward. historical buildings seem to be something a teenager might like aesthetically, but don't announced to have much personal relevance (correct me if I am incorrect).
When thinking about a 'landscape' theme, recollect that the discussion mural can be interpreted quite widely…i.e. it doesn't necessarily limit you to 'pretty' outdoor scenes, only could involve digital/virtual landscapes and how these interact with the concrete earth…or peradventure human despair / disenchantment manifested in dirty, graffiti-filled urban alleyways. Whatever the case, as suggested in my responses to the higher up two questions, you need to begin by identifying issues that really matter to you and using these every bit the starting point for exploring mural. For case (this is only a random idea, to illustrate the point), you might be disenchanted with the rigidity of school life and how the education system has been reduced to spoon feeding students with small capsules of data. Y'all could then brainstorm to explore this thought through the depiction of schoolyard landscapes – focusing perchance on grid-like patterns (repetition of rectangular classroom windows etc) in dreary disconnected compages. Equally your work progress, you might end up abstracting the architectural forms in an attempt to better represent/communicate/limited your ideas.
If yous detect it easier to start with a physical subject and permit the ideas flow from in that location, then select something unusual and interesting. Non a pretty building or a valley containing flowers – just possibly a cattle carcass decaying in long grass or a smashed upward automobile abandoned on a verge. It'southward not the macabre is necessarily more appropriate than pleasant imagery, but that the world is already filled with a million depictions of pretty landscapes. Unless yous are an absolutely astonishing artist,y'all are doing yourself a disservice past selecting a common, 'pretty' bailiwick. And even if you are absolutely amazing, it tin be far more than exciting to selection something unusual and crazy!
HAYA:Hey! I'k having a trouble choosing a topic with my v page (AS Level) portfolio. I adopt natural over manmade. Any idea as to what I tin base my five pages on? And then far I've been working on different postures of the homo body wrapped with drapery in an attempt to symbolise repression – a characteristic well known to myself as I'1000 a repressive person. Throughout my piece of work, the true identity of the model is hidden. I was wondering if my topic needs to be developed any further? Also, I was thinking of basing my work on something manmade…but I don't know what I could maybe do nether manmade. Your site is absolutely awesome. Thank you for all your assistance!
AMIRIA: I really similar your repression theme. It has a lot of potential. You could explore such things every bit the results of repression and whether this damages you / makes you withdraw or put up facades / muffle your truthful personality etc. The theme may lend itself to using acrylic gel mediums etc to achieve transparency and translucent layers…exploring what is seen / what is not seen / what is hidden etc.
Information technology is difficult to say whether your topic needs to exist developed further without seeing your piece of work – but the body of work as a whole should show development…from a starting signal towards a resolved piece of work. If your project seems to exist only repeating the aforementioned bailiwick from a different angle etc it is time for ideas / compositional strategies to be resolved. Looking to other artists for inspiration is often the best way to motility forward if you lot are stuck.
You might like to select manmade items that are connected to both fabric and ideas of repression …i.e. metal buckles on clothing and stitched ties / cords / zips etc – all of which invoke ideas such as tying shut / restraining / circumscribed etc. These objects take more structure and rigidity than only draped material and the human grade (and would thus provide you with some welcome multifariousness) but likewise can exist tied in nicely with your earlier themes. Good luck!
ASHLEIGH:For my AS Fine art I am doing Urban Decay. Information technology has to have some kind of story developing through to the end but I cannot think of anything????
Amiria:There are many possibilities… Literal interpretations, such as an area of boondocks that is physically falling into disrepair and has some sort of history or story attached to information technology…i.e. perhaps a thriving industrial expanse that became disused for some reason and so became overtaken by graffiti / vandalism etc. Alternatively you could explore notions of communities being dispersed due to computers …i.e. the desertion (decay) of traditional urban social centres (i.eastward. malls / movie theatres) due to people favouring internet-based interactions from the warmth of their ain homes…
Perhaps you could zoom correct and look at things on a almost molecular level…extreme close-ups, visually analysing, for example, the rust and erosion that creeps across metallic surfaces – or mites that eat into timber. These could lend themselves to beautiful abstract works. The 'story' in this example might exist to practise with the circle of life and how physical forms are transient and illusory with no clear boundaries…the ebb and flow of atoms etc…
Some other option might exist the beauty in decay? Discovering something that has rotted away but to betrayal something beautiful…
INAPICKLE:Hi! I have to COMPLETELY rethink my original idea for my page board (NCEA Level iii) and I'm really struggling for conceptual ideas. At the moment my new idea is the loss of innocence/consummate mental destruction and changed perception of the world through the experiences of war, told from a third person point of view with a solider as the main character (like a narrative). Also weaved into that idea is the thought of being so easily manipulated/brainwashed past the authorities into being merely a playing piece/slaughtered in their 'game' of state of war.
Help! I need your advice, am I on the right track? Or am I completely off?? I fear that the thought is mode as well cliche AND I'chiliad also unable to take photos of the discipline matter first hand…
AMIRIA: Your ideas are non new, as such, in that others have explored them before, but I don't think they are cliché. At that place is a slight take chances that they could be presented in an obvious, literal 'this is what I am maxim' type style, merely this applies to most topics.
In terms of immediate subject affair, I would be hesitant most only using 3rd party images – and would be particularly conscientious if they are simply unremarkably available photographs (i.e. those off the internet). You should utilize first hand subject matter if at all possible. For example, do you have relatives who were in a state of war? Tin can you lot get concur of whatsoever of their old memorabilia? Perhaps y'all could accept photographs at a museum or an old bunker? If you were thinking more than along the lines of Americans in Iraq etc, then newspaper clippings / magazine articles – mayhap televisions or computer screens with online news stories – could be used every bit concrete objects in themselves (i.eastward. with you lot initially creating a pile of photographs or pinning articles to a wall…and so drawing them, with all the creases / shadows / three-dimensional elements). Y'all could even have images and digitally superimpose them onto other surfaces (i.eastward. detect a demolished edifice or something that appears to exist some war scene ruin type matter…photograph information technology beautifully, then digitally superimpose other war based images over the top of it…
There are some instances where third party source fabric is advisable (usually when the resulting work is a far divergence from the initial images)…but I would exist hesitant. Talk over it advisedly with your instructor. They will know your work and whether it volition work for your situation.
KIMIKO:I've recently started my NCEA Level iii Painting lath and I'chiliad very confused and muddled with ideas. I'm worried that my theme may be as well superficial or not like shooting fish in a barrel for others to sympathize, to the point where I'one thousand thinking of redoing my boards. My theme right now is Arizona (desert), which was inspired past a dream I had of an open road journeying. The paintings that I have already done have a lot of vast open spaces to bear witness freedom, buffalo skulls and dark colours which draw death of the country, a main character (a girl), her tattoos and an sometime school machine. I plan on making my 2nd board more surreal and reintroducing this coyote equally a spirit guide (maybe this would create the more dreamlike qualities I'g trying to testify)? I am as well worried that I might be trying to cram also many themes or ideas into one making it complicated. Any ideas or pointers would be such a life saver.
AMIRIA: Hi Kimiko.Your theme sounds cool and crazy (in a good way), only it seems to bring together a whole range of elements and ideas, so it doesn't surprise me that you are floundering a little.
Firstly, I merely want to check whether you have (or have had) immediate admission to whatever of your discipline matter? Accept you been to the Arizona desert? Have you seen and photographed existent buffalo skulls? Is the car a real ane that you have access to? Is the girl you? Even if these things are ultimately depicted in manner that is stylised and surrealistic, it helps immensely to have quality source material the beginning. Could you substitute cow skulls for buffalo skulls (your school science dept should have some)? You want the examiners to believe that this is something personal to you – you don't desire them to doubtable yous accept produced the whole thing from second hand imagery sourced off the internet. At that place have been some expert folios based on second hand imagery – i.e. pictures from comic books – only these are rare, and in these cases the students cleverly dispense the image to 'make them their own'.
The second thing that concerns me a footling is the large range of objects/scenes within your work. For most students, condign expert with the representation of just ane or ii items within a year'due south work is enough of a claiming, let alone trying to become competent at drawing landscapes, bones, man figures, cars, and (now maybe) animals all at the aforementioned fourth dimension. I would probably refrain from introducing a coyote, especially if this is something that has not appeared anywhere elsewhere in your board for this reason…but information technology is difficult to say without seeing your work. If you are a strong drawer and tin cope with a broad range of forms, it might exist appropriate, as long as it could be integrated seamlessly within your lath. What does your teacher think?
The existent issue at hand, however, is whether you have established what your piece of work is really about. If it is difficult for others to understand, it may exist because you have not fully defined yourself what yous are trying to say. You mention that you are trying to describe a dreamlike land, and also freedom and death of the country, just how are these things connected? Your art needs to be more than than a simple depiction of a landscape yous dreamed nearly, with hinted emotion. It needs to have a real message and purpose. What was the dream really about? What is the purpose of the landscape? What is the artwork trying to say?
Once you accept established this, it should be easier to know how to proceed with your work. For case, if you are trying to communicate the thrill and fearful freedom that might follow an apocalyptic catastrophe (that is the result of humanity's careless attitude towards protecting our planet, for example), with the earth is 'wiped clean' and the landscape as we know information technology gone, leaving humans free of the shackles of mod society and eking out a primitive existence etc… then trivial details in the desert sand could requite hints at what happened and what has been lost – mayhap collaged littered remnants of society… The expressions, wear and tattoos on the girl could besides all contain clues about what has happened…
JADE:I'm having a little difficulty deciding on a project for my A2 Fine Art project. I begin this project in September simply we take been advised to start brainstorming ideas and collecting relevant sources during the summer holidays to contribute to the development and stability of my projection. This project is basically a personal experimentation project, so I can literally do anything for this project which is why I'm struggling slightly to observe an idea. I am mostly quite an indecisive person unfortunately! So when I think of an idea, information technology has to exist one in which I experience I volition not ever get bored of and a project that essentially tin exist broadened. In my previous projects, I've always had problem with keeping with projects consistently flowing. I tend to eventually run out of different ideas!
I have been thinking near doing 'the seven deadly sins' every bit a project, and I've done some enquiry on this topic. Personally, I call back this could be an interesting theme to explore. Withal, my concern is that my own enquiry and gathering of sources (i.due east. original images) may exist limited. If you have whatsoever suggestions I would be very grateful. If you too have any other suggestions for me going in a unlike direction or topic, I would also much appreciate whatever ideas. I bask painting, sketching, chalk and I love mixed media work. I'd similar to find a projection in which I tin comprise all mediums.
Thank you for your time, i'k sorry this postal service is so long! I find this site very helpful and encouraging, so cheers.
AMIRIA:Well done for commencement your preparation early on – your instructor will be very happy! My feeling is that the seven deadly sins is a very broad topic. Even simply one of the sins would exist sufficient for an A2 theme. Information technology is much better to have a narrow, well executed torso of piece of work, rather than a broad projection that is scattered and incoherent. The key to picking a topic is to find i that is really important to y'all (on an emotional level, not just an intellectual level). For instance, you could option gluttony if you lot (or someone you are shut to) struggles with dieting/eating/weight; or greed if people yous are shut to work themselves into the basis in hunt of coin, whilst sacrificing other aspects of their lives (i.e. a father who is always at the office and doesn't spend time with his family unit); or envy if there is something you desperately long for…or someone who you encounter is beingness destroyed past envy etc… In other words, exist driven by an consequence that is really relevant in your life.
In terms of your want to apply many mediums – this is a great idea for all topics. Experimentation and trialling a range of mediums is benign for all topics, and so don't allow this worry or influence your topic selection.
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Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the form design and assessment of pupil work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Compages (Offset Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Fine art & Design Coursework Assessor.
Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/a-level-art-ideas